Music Shopping List: Sting & More

Music Shopping List: Arguably, the most notable release arriving November 11 comes from rock veteran Sting with ‘57^th & 9^th’.

Friday, November 4, was a respectable new music release date, featuring new albums from Alicia Keys (Here), Bon Jovi (This House Is Not For Sale), and Common (Black America Again).  Friday, November 11 isn’t quite as big, but does feature one surefire, marquee name – Sting (57^th & 9^th). Sting is also joined by standouts Emeli Sandé, Nathan Sykes (previously of The Wanted), and Joe among others.

1. Sting, 57^th & 9^th

[A&M]

65-year old rock vet Sting returns with 57^th & 9^th, his first studio album in three years.  57^th & 9^th follows The Last Ship, which arrived back in 2013.  Most notable about 57^th & 9^th is how hard the promo single – “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You” – rocks.

• Tracks: 13
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You,” “50,000” & “Petrol Head”

2. Emeli Sandé, Long Live the Angels

[Virgin]

British singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé returns with her sophomore album, Long Live The Angels.  Long Live the Angels serves as the follow up to Sandé’s 2012 debut, Our Version of Events.  Three dynamic promo singles arrived prior to Long Live the Angels: “Hurts,” “Garden,” and “Breathing Underwater.”

• Tracks: 19
• Featured Guests: Jay Electronica, Aine Zion, Joel Sandre & The Serenje Choir
• Pre-Release Singles: “Breathing Underwater,” “Hurts” & “Garden” (ft. Jay Electronica & Aine Zion)

3. Nathan Sykes, Unfinished Business

[Def Jam]

Nathan Sykes is a former boy bander (The Wanted) gone solo.  Unfinished Business marks his debut album.  Ahead of Unfinished Business, Sykes released six singles.  Unfortunately, stateside at least, buzz has been “on the low” surrounding the album.

• Tracks: 16
• Featured Guests: G-Eazy & Ariana Grande
• Pre-Release Singles: “Kiss Me Quick,” “Famous,” “Give It Up” (ft. G-Eazy), “More Than You’ll Ever Know,” “Over and over Again” & “Over and over Again” (ft. Ariana Grande)

4. Joe, #MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS

[Plaid Takeover / BMG Rights Management]

Adult contemporary R&B veteran Joe continues on the grind as an independent artist.  Prolific as ever, he releases #MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS, his first album in two years (Bridges, 2014).   #MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS is Joe’s 13^th album, including Christmas album, Home is the Essence of Christmas (2010).  Notably, Joe covers Adele’s “Hello.”

• Tracks: 16
• Featured Guests: Gucci Mane
• Pre-Release Singles: “So I Can Have You Back,” “Happy Hour” (ft. Gucci Mane), “Our Anthem,” “Hello”

5. A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It from Here Thank You 4 Your Service

[Epic]

Veteran rap collective A Tribe Called Quest release their first studio album in 18 years, We Got It from Here Thank You 4 Your Service.  As of publication time, the track list hasn’t been released.

• Tracks: 16
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: N/A

6. Leslie Odom, Jr., Simply Christmas

[S-Curve]

Tony-winning Hamilton actor and jazz musician Leslie Odom, Jr. releases his second effort, Simply Christmas.  Earlier this year, Odom, Jr. released his self-titled debut.  Simply Christmas is led by opener and promo single, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

• Tracks: 8
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

7. Ronnie Dunn, Tattooed Heart

[Big Machine]

Ronnie Dunn – one half of former country duo Brooks & Dunn – releases his latest solo album, Tattooed Heart.  Tattoo Heart arrives five years after his self-titled debut album.  Interestingly, his Kix Brooks appears with Dunn on single “Damn Drunk.”

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: Kix Brooks & Reba McEntire
• Pre-Release Singles: “Ain’t No Trucks in Texas,” “Damn Drunk” (w/ Kix Brooks), “That’s Why They Make Jack Daniels,” “Tattooed Heart,” “Only Broken Heart in San Antone” & “She Don’t Honky Tonk No More”

Also Released: Animals As Leaders, The Madness of Many [Sumerian]; Chris Quilala, Split the Sky [Sparrow]; In Flames, Battles [Eleven Seven]; Home Free, Full of (Even More) Cheer [Sony Music]; Struggle Jennings, Return of the Outlaw EP [Slumerican]; Sleigh Bells, Jessica Rabbit [Torn Clean]; Ty Herndon, House on Fire [Journey On Entertainment]; Z-Ro, Legendary [1 Deep Entertainment]

Photo Credits: A&M, Virgin, Def Jam, Plaid Lover/BMG, Epic, S-Curve, Big Machine